Utah offers two very different kinds of elk hunting. Its limited-entry units are some of the best trophy elk hunting in the country, with tightly controlled permit numbers and bulls to match. Those take years of bonus points to draw. At the same time, Utah sells general-season any-bull and spike permits over the counter, so anyone, resident or nonresident, can hunt elk every year.
Add in Cooperative Wildlife Management Units (CWMUs), private ranches that offer guaranteed hunts, and Utah has an option for almost any hunter and budget. This guide explains how it all fits together. Start here, then use the links below to go deeper.
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Utah elk hunting at a glance
| Agency | Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR), wildlife.utah.gov; draw help line 855-883-7297 |
| Big game draw | Applications March 19 – April 23, 2026 (11 p.m. MDT), at utahdraws.com |
| Draw results | By May 31, 2026 |
| Draw type | Bonus points for limited-entry elk; half the permits in each hunt go to the applicants with the most points |
| OTC permits | General-season archery elk went on sale July 7, any-bull July 9, and spike July 16, 2026 |
| Nonresident permits | Limited-entry bull elk $1,950; general any-bull or spike $849 (2026) |
| Resident permits | Limited-entry bull elk $314; general any-bull or spike $56 (2026) |
| License | Hunting license required to apply or buy a permit: $40 resident, $144 nonresident |
| Seasons | General archery from mid-August, any-legal-weapon (rifle) in early to mid-October, muzzleloader late October to early November; limited-entry hunts from August through December |
Fees and dates are from the Utah DWR’s 2026 Big Game Application Guidebook. Always confirm with the current guidebook and the Utah Hunt Planner before you apply.
Step 1: Decide how you will get a permit
- Limited-entry draw. About 3,500 limited-entry bull permits were recommended for 2026 across all hunt types. You apply in spring, earn a bonus point every year you don’t draw, and face a five-year wait after you draw. Read our step-by-step draw guide.
- General-season permits (over the counter). Any-bull, spike, and archery elk permits go on sale in July. Some are capped, some unlimited. See how general-season elk permits work.
- CWMUs. Private-land units with their own permits. Residents can draw CWMU permits; nonresidents get them through a voucher from the landowner or operator, usually as part of a guided hunt.
Step 2: Pick your season
General archery runs from mid-August into September and overlaps the start of the rut. Rifle hunts on general units are in early October, after the peak of the rut. Limited-entry hunts include rut archery, rifle, and muzzleloader hunts plus late hunts.
See 2026 Utah elk season dates
Step 3: Set a realistic budget
A nonresident on an over-the-counter any-bull permit spends about $1,000 on the license and permit. A limited-entry permit pushes that past $2,100. Guided general-season hunts start around $3,750, and guided CWMU and limited-entry hunts commonly run $7,000 to $28,500.
Break down the full cost of a Utah elk hunt
Step 4: Choose guided or DIY
General-season units are open to anyone and are busy, but elk are spread across a lot of public land. Limited-entry and CWMU hunts are where outfitters make the biggest difference.
Compare guided and DIY elk hunts
Before you go: requirements every hunter needs
- Hunting license. Required to apply for points or permits, and to buy an over-the-counter permit.
- Hunter education. Anyone born after December 31, 1965, must complete hunter education before getting a license or big game permit.
- Minimum age. 12 to hunt big game (11-year-olds can apply).
- Archery ethics course. Required for extended archery hunts.
- Harvest report. Due within 30 days after your hunting season ends, whether or not you killed an elk.
- E-tagging. You can choose to tag your elk electronically in the Utah Hunting and Fishing app, which also completes your harvest report.
Hunting deer too?
Utah’s deer draw uses the same spring application. See our Utah deer hunting guide.
Find a Utah elk outfitter
Horn & Fin lists guides, outfitters, and DIY hunting options across Utah. Every listing shows the species, seasons, and areas they hunt, along with reviews from other hunters.
Compare Utah elk hunts
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Looking for a deal? Check our discount guided hunts and self-guided and DIY hunts.